Everglades National Park Address Information: Where is Everglades National Park Located

Are you planning a Florida vacation? If so, make sure to visit the Everglades National Park. This is the third-largest national park in the contiguous 48 states, only after Death Valley and Yellowstone. Known for its animals including famous alligators, tropical wading birds and 14 threatened species, the park also has a variety of habitats including saw grass, freshwater marsh, mangrove forests, hardwood hammocks, lakes and Florida Bay.

Where is the Everglades National Park located? Covering about 1,509,000 acres, throughout Dade, Broward, Monroe and Collier counties in Florida, the Everglades is situated on the extreme southern section of the Florida peninsula, about 20 miles east of Biscayne National Park. The elevation usually ranges from 0 to 8 feet above sea level, with a Native American-built shell mounted on the Gulf Coast rising 20 feet above sea level. Take a look at the maps at this page and you will gain a clear understanding of the Everglades National Park.

Maps of Everglades National Park

http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/maps.htm

Although many visitors are confused about the park's attractions which are quite different from the geographical characteristics of many western parks, the features are subtle but amazing. Also, there are four visitor centers set in different areas of the park, offering maps and brochures to help tourists prepare for some wonderful adventures in exploring the park.

1) Ernest Coe Visitor Center (305-242-7700)

Ernest Coe Visitor Center is located at the main entrance of the park, close to Homestead Road 9336. The physical address is 40001 State Road 9336 Homestead, Florida, 33034-6733.

Visitors driving north from the Miami area are suggested to take the Florida Turnpike (Route 821) south until it converts to the U.S. 1 at Florida City. Take a right at the first traffic light onto Palm Drive (State Road 9336/SW 344th Street) and follow the sighs to the park. For visitors coming north from the Florida Keys, make a left on Palm Drive in Florida City and follow the signs to the park.

Featuring educational displays, orientation films and informational brochures, the center is open daily. The operating hours are from 9am to 5pm. There are a series of popular walking trails starting only a short drive from the center.

2) Gulf Coast Visitor Center (239-695-3311)

The Gulf Coast Visitor Center is situated 5 miles from south of Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) on State Road 29, in Everglades City. The specific address is 815 Oyster Bar Ln Everglades City, Florida, 34139.

If driving from I-75 (Alligator Alley), get off at exit 80 (State Road 29) south and drive on about 20 miles to Everglades City. When you are in Everglades City, follow the signs to the park. The visitor center is on the right.

The center gives visitors access to the Ten Thousand Islands, a maze of mangrove islands which extends to Flamingo and Florida Bay. The center hours are from 9am to 4:30pm from mid April to mid November and from 8am to 4:30pm from mid November to mid April.

3) Flamingo Visitor Center (Contact 239-695-2945)

The Gulf Coast Visitor Center serves as the gateway for exploring Wilderness Waterway by canoes, a 99 mile canoe trail that extends to the Flamingo Visitor Center. You can find the center approximately 38 miles south of the park entrance.

For visitors driving north from the Miami area, take the Florida Turnpike (Route 821) south until it converts to the U.S. 1 at Florida City. Make a right at the first light onto Palm Drive (State Road 9336 / SW 344th Street) and follow the signs to the park. If driving north from Florida Keys, take a left on Palm Drive.

The center features educational displays, informational brochures and backcountry permits. There are campgrounds, a marina and marina store, several hiking and canoeing trails in the vicinity. The center is open from 9am to 4:30pm based on staffing. For self-registration for backcountry attractions, lobby opens 24 hours. The hours are subject to change.

4) Shark Valley Visitor Center (305-221-8776)

Located on Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail / SW 8th Street), 25 miles west of the Florida Turnpike, Shark Valley Visitor Center can be found on the Tamiami Trail (part of U.S. Route 41) directly west of Miami. For guests coming from the Naples area, take U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) about 70 miles east to Shark Valley.

The center provides educational displays, a park video, an underwater camera and informational brochures. A 15-mile round trip path helps get you to a two-story observation tower from this center. The center hours are from 9:15am to 5:15pm.

Everglades National Park also boasts areas at the Chekika where visitors can hike, picnic and bike. Chekika lies about 36 miles from downtown Miami and 18 miles from Homestead.

To reach the Chekika, take the Dolphin Expressway (State Road 836) and turn off at the Palmetto Expressway (State Road 826) or the Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike. Go to the Palmetto exit or Turnpike exit at Kendall Drive (SW 88th Street). Then head west to Krome Avenue (SW 177th Avenue). Make a left and head south about 5 miles to SW 168th Street. Turn right and go west about 6 miles to 237th Avenue. Take a right and drive north about 1 mile. Turn left onto 168th Street and you will find the entrance to Chekika on the western side.

As a wonderful place for bicycle rides along paved roads and canal banks, visitors also can enjoy picnicking and self-guided, short hiking trail through a hardwood hammock. By reason of seasonal flooding, Chekika will be closed during the wet season, from December 1 to April 30. The contact number is 305-242-7700.

In addition to picnicking and hiking, Everglades National Park also has many other fun activities and events. To explore these events, visit this page:

Things to Do at Everglades National Park

http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/things2do.htm